Confused by in-game FPS and GPU/CPU utility.

fendertele · 27 Jul 2023 at 03:52

Hey everyone,

Hoping someone might be able to clear up what is happening with my set up.

I have overclocked both my CPU and GPU and it's stable with decent scores on benchmark.

The issue I've been noticing is the following.

Game: Fifa 23.

First try.
Settings: 1080p, Lowest.
FPS Max : 80fps and drops every few seconds to around 10/20 fps
GPU : 97% Utilization and drops every few seconds to as low as 10%
GPU temp : 60-65c
CPU: 85%- 90% Utilization.
CPU temp : 60c-65c

Settings: 1080p, High
FPS Max : 90fps consistent.
GPU: 100% utilization no drops
GPU temp : 60-65c
CPU: 85-90% Utilization
CPU temp : 60-65C

Settings: 1080, Ultra
FPS Max : 92fps consistent.
GPU: 100% utilization no drops
GPU temp : 60-65c
CPU: 85%- 90% Utilization.
CPU temp : 60-65c

So as you can the higher I increased my Graphics settings in game, the more consistent my GPU utilization became and the FPS increased with no drops, but on the lowest settings it was lower fps and stuttering constantly.

I would have assumed that lower settings would have resulted in higher FPS and the number would decrease the more intensive I set the game, I'd also have expected the Temps to increase the higher I set the game settings ?

Was I not pushing my Graphics card hard enough ? and this resulted in my CPU then doing more work ? Again I'm confused if this is the case as the CPU utility remained the same on all 3 trials.

Here is my specs along with the benchmark scores.

mickyflinn · 27 Jul 2023 at 07:29

Does seem odd have you tried the same test in other games ?

The 2200g is a weak CPU in terms of performance mite be worth looking at an upgrade .

What motherboard do you have ?

fendertele · 27 Jul 2023 at 11:21

mickyflinn said:
Does seem odd have you tried the same test in other games ?

The 2200g is a weak CPU in terms of performance mite be worth looking at an upgrade .

What motherboard do you have ?

Asrock B450M Pro4

Just to check in terms of my FPS improving with higher in game settings is this due to me pushing the GPU then to take the full load rather than it being a combination of the GPU/CPU ?

Armageus · 27 Jul 2023 at 11:43

It's likely the game engine is badly threaded and therefore is bottlenecked by single core performance.

At lower settings it's possible that the CPU actually has to do more work (e.g. by preparing some things in software for compatibility with low end/integrated graphics etc) that would otherwise be done by the GPU.

There are plenty of cheap upgrade options available for AM4 now, both used (e.g. 3600x/3700x/5600x) or even cheap chips available new like the 4500, that would give you a decent boost in single threaded performance as well as adding 2 more cores.

My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 5 4500 Six Core 4.1GHz (Socket AM4) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3D4-AM) = £74.99

Total: £82.98 (includes delivery: £7.99)

mickyflinn · 27 Jul 2023 at 11:46

fendertele said:
Asrock B450M Pro4

Just to check in terms of my FPS improving with higher in game settings is this due to me pushing the GPU then to take the full load rather than it being a combination of the GPU/CPU ?

Not sure about that as it seems to be a bit wierd and would expect higher FPS with lower detail but you need to check with other games as it mite be game specific.

If you wish Your motherboard will let you upgrade the CPU to a 5000 series CPU I would recommend a 5600 which can be had for around £125 and would be a monster upgrade from the 2200g.

Bios update will probably be needed if not up to date .

therealdippy · 27 Jul 2023 at 13:46

You can't judge CPU or GPU temperature without monitoring clocks and power. In all settings the workload/utilisation is sufficient to change P-state and the clocks will be boosting. Your cooling seems to be enough to maintain those temperatures.

I don't know FIFA but the 23 implies that it is a recent game so it will likely be using many of the different graphics technologies available at the moment. A lot of these involved a balance between CPU and GPU work and so likely @Armageus is right - in the lower settings the shift is away from GPU and to CPU instead. The fact that the GPU utilisation drops intermittently does indeed suggest that the CPU can't give it more work quickly enough.

fendertele · 27 Jul 2023 at 17:41

therealdippy said:
You can't judge CPU or GPU temperature without monitoring clocks and power. In all settings the workload/utilisation is sufficient to change P-state and the clocks will be boosting. Your cooling seems to be enough to maintain those temperatures.

I don't know FIFA but the 23 implies that it is a recent game so it will likely be using many of the different graphics technologies available at the moment. A lot of these involved a balance between CPU and GPU work and so likely @Armageus is right - in the lower settings the shift is away from GPU and to CPU instead. The fact that the GPU utilisation drops intermittently does indeed suggest that the CPU can't give it more work quickly enough.

So as it stands until I upgrade the best idea would be to put more strain on the GPU by increasing game settings to force 100% GPU utilization in the meantime ?.

As this seems to have helped in both the FPS region and also in smoother gameplay.. as it's always 100% and not jumping up and down constantly?.

fendertele · 27 Jul 2023 at 17:42

@Armageus @MickeyFinns Yeah it's now going to be on my to-do list esp at those prices and the massive gains that would come from it.

Cheers.

therealdippy · 27 Jul 2023 at 17:56

Yes. Why get the CPU to do graphics operations when the GPU is so much better at doing it?
When I play games I start on the highest settings and then reduce them if I want higher FPS.
Most of the time I rely on GeForce Experience for this, but for unsupported games I have had to do it manually, testing the effect that each individual reduction has.
In your case it makes sense to enjoy the ultra settings.

fendertele · 27 Jul 2023 at 18:24

therealdippy said:
Yes. Why get the CPU to do graphics operations when the GPU is so much better at doing it?
When I play games I start on the highest settings and then reduce them if I want higher FPS.
Most of the time I rely on GeForce Experience for this, but for unsupported games I have had to do it manually, testing the effect that each individual reduction has.
In your case it makes sense to enjoy the ultra settings.

Yes good thinking, I've always thought because I'm mid range at best that in order to get high FPS I need to go 1080p lowest settings but seeing the results above it appears there is a middle ground where higher settings will force 100% utilization and then result in higher fps than lower settings which are relying on the CPU pulling some of the weight, makes sense then to start at highest and then gradually lower until my GPU is no longer being fully utilized and then settle at the second from last setting.